Stubbs excited by new chapter with Millers

New Rotherham United boss Alan Stubbs has described his appointment as a ‘great opportunity’ as he starts his first day as Millers manager.

Stubbs was officially unveiled as the club’s new first team manager at a press conference at noon today at AESSEAL New York Stadium, after his appointment was confirmed yesterday evening.

Stubbs is joined in South Yorkshire by assistant manager John Doolan, who previously worked alongside the new Millers boss at Scottish club Hibernian.

Together they helped mastermind Hibs’ first Scottish Cup triumph in 114 years after a dramatic victory over Rangers at Hampden Park last month, but now Stubbs is fully focused on his new challenge at AESSEAL New York Stadium, admitting he is itching to get stuck into the Millers challenge.

“I am delighted to be here and I am looking forward to the next chapter now with Rotherham United,” Stubbs told www.themillers.co.uk

“It is an exciting time and I am really looking forward to my teeth into this challenge, and bringing some exciting players into the football club.

“This is a great opportunity. The stadium is fantastic, we have a nucleus of good players here and there is room for me here to work on building on a new squad.”

It will be the first time that Stubbs has managed outside of Scotland, but he brings with him a wealth of playing and coaching experience from a highly-successful career in the game.

After an 18-year professional career which saw the former central defender take in spells at Bolton Wanderers, Celtic, Everton (twice), Sunderland and Derby County, he then switched to coaching joining the backroom staff at Everton.

He made the step up to head coach in 2014 when he was given the top job at Hibernian and won many an admiring glance for turning around the fortunes of the Easter Road club.

“We all know how competitive the Championship is, and I know what an exciting challenge it will be,” Stubbs added.

“I went to Hibs and I will always be thankful for the opportunity that they gave me, and I would like to think that they were really happy with the job that I did there.

“Like everything once you start doing well, then you get admirers and I am glad that the Chairman here was one of those.

“Now I am here I cannot wait to get started, we’ll look to make some new signings and look to take the club forward."